Opportunity Information: Apply for ED GRANTS 081216 002

  • The Department of Education in the education sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "OSERS: RSA: Training of Interpreters for Individuals Who Are Deaf or Hard of Hearing and Individuals Who Are Deaf-Blind Program CFDA Number 84.160D" and is now available to receive applicants.
  • Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 84.160.
  • This funding opportunity was created on Aug 12, 2016.
  • Applicants must submit their applications by Sep 12, 2016 Applications Available August 12, 2016. Date of Pre-Application Teleconference Interested parties are invited to submit questions to the following email address TSPDgrants@ed.gov. In the subject line of the email, please insert the text CFDA 84.160D. Interested parties are invited to participate in a pre-application teleconference with staff from the Department on August 18, 2016 at 1130 a.m. Eastern Time. The teleconference number is 888-843-6165, and the passcode is 7905685. For further information about the pre-application teleconference, contact the person listed under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT in section VII of this notice. Deadline for Transmittal of Applications September 12, 2016.. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
  • Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $400,000.00 in funding.
  • The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 4 candidate(s).
  • Eligible applicants include: State governments, County governments, City or township governments, Special district governments, Public and State controlled institutions of higher education, Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized), Native American tribal organizations (other than Federally recognized tribal governments), Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Nonprofits that do not have a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Private institutions of higher education, Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).
Apply for ED GRANTS 081216 002

[Watch] Creating a grant proposal using the step-by-step wizard inside the applicant portal:

Opportunity Summary:

The OSERS/RSA Training of Interpreters for Individuals Who Are Deaf or Hard of Hearing and Individuals Who Are Deaf-Blind Program (CFDA 84.160D) is a discretionary grant opportunity from the U.S. Department of Education, administered through the Rehabilitation Services Administration under the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 as amended by the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act. The central goal is to increase the supply of qualified interpreters nationwide by supporting the creation of new interpreter training programs and strengthening or expanding existing ones. In practical terms, the program is meant to help address persistent interpreter shortages and raise overall interpreter quality so that people who are deaf, hard of hearing, and deaf-blind can access effective communication in education, employment, training, and community settings.

The grants are focused on building interpreter capacity across multiple communication modes, not just one format of interpretation. Funded projects are expected to train interpreters to interpret and transliterate using spoken, visual, and tactile modes of communication, reflecting the real-world range of needs among consumers, including individuals who are deaf-blind who may rely on tactile communication methods. The opportunity also emphasizes skill maintenance and continuous improvement for interpreters who are already working in the field, with the expectation that training aligns with high standards recognized by certifying associations and responds directly to the communication needs of the communities served. In other words, the program is not only about graduating new interpreters; it also supports ongoing professional development so working interpreters can refine, update, and expand their competencies.

Eligibility is broad and includes many types of public and nonprofit entities as well as higher education institutions. Eligible applicants include state, county, city/township, and special district governments; public and state-controlled institutions of higher education; private institutions of higher education; federally recognized tribal governments and other tribal organizations; and nonprofits both with and without 501(c)(3) status (excluding institutions of higher education in those nonprofit categories). The listing also notes an "Others" category, with the expectation that applicants consult the official Federal Register notice for any clarifications or special conditions related to eligibility.

Applications must be submitted electronically through Grants.gov, and the competition is located by searching the CFDA number without the letter suffix (meaning applicants search for 84.160 rather than 84.160D). The process requires downloading the application package, completing it offline, and then uploading it to Grants.gov for submission; applications cannot be submitted by emailing files directly to the Department. Because this synopsis is drawn from the Federal Register notice, applicants are directed to rely on the official notice for the full set of requirements, including program priorities, performance measures, formatting rules, required forms and assurances, and submission details that can affect whether an application is accepted for review.

For the specific competition described in the notice, applications became available on August 12, 2016, with a deadline for transmittal of September 12, 2016. The Department anticipated making about four awards, with an award ceiling of $400,000. The notice also included a structured pre-application support option: a pre-application teleconference hosted by Department staff on August 18, 2016, at 11:30 a.m. Eastern Time, along with a dedicated email channel (TSPDgrants@ed.gov) for submitting questions, using "CFDA 84.160D" in the subject line to route inquiries properly.

Overall, this opportunity is best understood as workforce development funding targeted at interpreter preparation and advancement. It supports programs that can produce more interpreters, improve interpreter competency across spoken, visual, and tactile modalities, and help interpreters meet recognized certification-related standards while staying responsive to the communication access needs of individuals who are deaf, hard of hearing, and deaf-blind. For any organization considering a similar RSA interpreter training competition, the key takeaways are the program's emphasis on both pipeline growth and quality improvement, its wide eligibility categories, the requirement to apply via Grants.gov, and the importance of using the Federal Register notice as the definitive source for priorities, selection criteria, and compliance expectations.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What is the OSERS/RSA Training of Interpreters Program (CFDA 84.160D)?

It is a discretionary grant opportunity from the U.S. Department of Education. The program is administered by the Rehabilitation Services Administration (RSA) within the Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services (OSERS), under the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 as amended by the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act.

What is the main goal of this grant program?

The central goal is to increase the nationwide supply of qualified interpreters by supporting the creation of new interpreter training programs and strengthening or expanding existing programs.

What problem is this grant intended to address?

The program is intended to help address persistent interpreter shortages and to raise overall interpreter quality so individuals who are deaf, hard of hearing, and deaf-blind can access effective communication in education, employment, training, and community settings.

What types of interpreter training does the program emphasize?

Funded projects are expected to train interpreters to interpret and transliterate using spoken, visual, and tactile modes of communication. The emphasis is on building capacity across multiple modes, reflecting real-world communication needs, including tactile communication methods used by some individuals who are deaf-blind.

Is the program only for training new interpreters?

No. In addition to supporting the preparation of new interpreters, the opportunity emphasizes skill maintenance and continuous improvement for interpreters who are already working in the field through ongoing professional development.

What standards should training align with?

The training is expected to align with high standards recognized by certifying associations and to respond directly to the communication needs of the communities served.

Who is eligible to apply for CFDA 84.160D?

Eligibility is broad and includes many public and nonprofit entities and higher education institutions. Eligible applicants include:

  • State governments
  • County governments
  • City or township governments
  • Special district governments
  • Public and state-controlled institutions of higher education
  • Private institutions of higher education
  • Federally recognized tribal governments
  • Other tribal organizations
  • Nonprofits with 501(c)(3) status (excluding institutions of higher education in the nonprofit categories)
  • Nonprofits without 501(c)(3) status (excluding institutions of higher education in the nonprofit categories)
  • Others (with the expectation that the Federal Register notice be consulted for clarifications or special conditions)

Where can applicants confirm the official requirements for the competition?

The Federal Register notice is the definitive source for the full set of requirements, including program priorities, performance measures, formatting rules, required forms and assurances, and submission details that can affect whether an application is accepted for review.

How must applications be submitted?

Applications must be submitted electronically through Grants.gov. Applicants download the application package, complete it offline, and upload it to Grants.gov for submission.

Can applications be submitted by email directly to the Department of Education?

No. The opportunity materials specify that applications cannot be submitted by emailing files directly to the Department; submission is through Grants.gov.

How do applicants find the competition on Grants.gov?

The competition is located by searching the CFDA number without the letter suffix. Applicants should search for 84.160 rather than 84.160D.

When were applications available and when was the deadline for this competition?

For the competition described, applications became available on August 12, 2016. The deadline for transmittal was September 12, 2016.

How many awards did the Department anticipate making?

The Department anticipated making about four awards for the competition described in the notice.

What was the maximum award amount (award ceiling)?

The award ceiling stated in the notice was $400,000.

Was there any pre-application support offered?

Yes. The notice included a pre-application teleconference hosted by Department staff on August 18, 2016, at 11:30 a.m. Eastern Time.

How could applicants submit questions to the Department?

Applicants could submit questions via email to TSPDgrants@ed.gov. The notice directed applicants to use "CFDA 84.160D" in the subject line to help route inquiries properly.

What is the overall focus of this funding opportunity?

It is workforce development funding targeted at interpreter preparation and advancement. It supports programs that produce more interpreters, improve interpreter competency across spoken, visual, and tactile modalities, and help interpreters meet recognized certification-related standards while staying responsive to communication access needs.

What are the key takeaways for organizations considering a similar RSA interpreter training competition?

The key takeaways highlighted include: an emphasis on both pipeline growth (more interpreters) and quality improvement; wide eligibility categories; the requirement to apply via Grants.gov; and the importance of relying on the Federal Register notice for official priorities, selection criteria, and compliance expectations.

Browse more business programs for Training Services

Browse more opportunities from the same agency: Department of Education

Browse more opportunities from the same category: Education

Next opportunity: THIS IS NOT A REQUEST FOR APPLICATIONS- Natural Resource Intern Program- MNRR- THIS IS NOT A REQUEST FOR APPLICATIONS

Previous opportunity: Office of Elementary and Secondary Education (OESE): Promoting Student Resilience (PSR) Program CFDA Number 84184C

USGrants.org Applicant Portal:

Are you interested in learning about about how to apply for this government funding opportunity? You can create a free applicant account and receive instant access to our applicant portal that many business owners like you have benefited from.

Apply for ED GRANTS 081216 002

 

[Watch] how do funding administrators access proposals?

Applicants also applied for:

Applicants who have applied for this opportunity (ED GRANTS 081216 002) also looked into and applied for these:

Funding Opportunity
Place-Based Education Partnership, at March-Billings-Rockefeller National Historical Park in Woodstock, VT Apply for NPS 16 NERO 0149

Funding Number: NPS 16 NERO 0149
Agency: Department of the Interior, National Park Service
Category: Education
Funding Amount: $55,380
Development of Youth through Records Internship Program Apply for P16AS00490

Funding Number: P16AS00490
Agency: Department of the Interior, National Park Service
Category: Education
Funding Amount: $46,278
Education and Outreach Programs, Juan Bautista de Anza National Historic Trail Apply for P16AS00436

Funding Number: P16AS00436
Agency: Department of the Interior, National Park Service
Category: Education
Funding Amount: $22,042
Archive Management With Student Interns Apply for P16AS00495

Funding Number: P16AS00495
Agency: Department of the Interior, National Park Service
Category: Education
Funding Amount: $88,150
Natural Resources Management Education and Training of Cottage Grove Area High School Students Apply for NWP 16 0003

Funding Number: NWP 16 0003
Agency: Department of Defense, USACE Portland District
Category: Education
Funding Amount: $12,500
Establishing an Archival/Records Management Partnership to Assist the National Park Service in Managing its Historically Valuable Records in the Washington Office Apply for P16AS00387

Funding Number: P16AS00387
Agency: Department of the Interior, National Park Service
Category: Education
Funding Amount: $299,988
Policy Development and Analysis Fellowship for Public Safety within the NPS Apply for P16AS00502

Funding Number: P16AS00502
Agency: Department of the Interior, National Park Service
Category: Education
Funding Amount: $139,949
Frederick Douglass Institute Student Think Tank Apply for P16AS00504

Funding Number: P16AS00504
Agency: Department of the Interior, National Park Service
Category: Education
Funding Amount: $42,000
Expansion of Urban Engagement Efforts in the Seattle Area Apply for P16AS00509

Funding Number: P16AS00509
Agency: Department of the Interior, National Park Service
Category: Education
Funding Amount: $46,555
Canal Steward Program Internship Apply for NPSNOICHOH1601410

Funding Number: NPSNOICHOH1601410
Agency: Department of the Interior, National Park Service
Category: Education
Funding Amount: Case Dependent
Office of Elementary and Secondary Education (OESE): Preschool Development Grants: Preschool Pay for Success Feasibility Pilot CFDA Number 84.419C Apply for ED GRANTS 082216 001

Funding Number: ED GRANTS 082216 001
Agency: Department of Education
Category: Education
Funding Amount: $40,000
SCA Museum Collections Intern Apply for P16AS00534

Funding Number: P16AS00534
Agency: Department of the Interior, National Park Service
Category: Education
Funding Amount: $46,334
Interpretive Programming for 50th Commemoration of Selma to Montgomery March Apply for P16AS00543

Funding Number: P16AS00543
Agency: Department of the Interior, National Park Service
Category: Education
Funding Amount: $196,340
Office of innovation and Improvement (OII): Investing in Innovation (I3) Fund: Development Grants Full Application CFDA Number 84.411C Apply for ED GRANTS 082416 001

Funding Number: ED GRANTS 082416 001
Agency: Department of Education
Category: Education
Funding Amount: $19,000,000
Invasive Plant Crew for Mapping and Invasive Exotic Plant Eradication Apply for P16AS00549

Funding Number: P16AS00549
Agency: Department of the Interior, National Park Service
Category: Education
Funding Amount: $82,398
Internship Training Program Southeast Regional Office, Cultural Landscapes Program Apply for P16AS00551

Funding Number: P16AS00551
Agency: Department of the Interior, National Park Service
Category: Education
Funding Amount: $48,000
Delta State University -MIDE NHA Apply for P16AS00554

Funding Number: P16AS00554
Agency: Department of the Interior, National Park Service
Category: Education
Funding Amount: $1,344,000
ATCHAFALAYA NATIONAL HERITAGE AREA Apply for P16AS00557

Funding Number: P16AS00557
Agency: Department of the Interior, National Park Service
Category: Education
Funding Amount: $3,055,710
Enhance, Manage and Promote the Medical Reserve Corps Training Finder Real-Time Integrated Network (MRC-TRAIN) Apply for EP HIT 16 004

Funding Number: EP HIT 16 004
Agency: Department of Health and Human Services, Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response
Category: Education
Funding Amount: $100,000
Heighten Park Visibility & Relevance through Creative Community Engagement Apply for NPS 16 NERO 0197

Funding Number: NPS 16 NERO 0197
Agency: Department of the Interior, National Park Service
Category: Education
Funding Amount: $189,958

 

Grant application guides and resources

It is always free to apply for government grants. However the process may be very complex depending on the funding opportunity you are applying for. Let us help you!

Apply for Grants

 

USGrants.org applicant portal membership

 

Premium leads for funding administrators, grant writers, and loan issuers

Thousands of people visit our website for their funding needs every day. When a user creates a grant proposal and files for submission, we pass the information on to funding administrators, grant writers, and government loan issuers.

If you manage government grant programs, provide grant writing services, or issue personal or government loans, we can help you reach your audience.

Subscribe to Leads

 

Request more information:

Would you like to learn more about this funding opportunity, similar opportunities to "ED GRANTS 081216 002", eligibility, application service, and/or application tips? Submit an inquiry below:

Don't forget to subscribe to our grant alerts mailing list to receive weekly alerts on new and updated grant funding opportunities like this one in your email.